Trezor.io/start — Get Started with Your Trezor Device

Your official, step‑by‑step 2,500‑word guide to unboxing, setting up, securing, and using your Trezor hardware wallet. Follow these instructions carefully — perform verification steps on the device screen and keep your recovery seed offline.

Welcome — a short orientation

Hardware wallets are the most secure way to hold cryptocurrency keys: they keep private keys isolated inside a dedicated device and require physical confirmation to sign transactions. This guide leads you through the full lifecycle: unboxing, installing Trezor Suite, initializing or restoring your wallet, managing accounts, performing transactions and swaps, backing up seeds, and troubleshooting. It's written for both beginners and experienced users who want a complete reference.

Buy from authorized sellers

Only purchase Trezor devices from the official Trezor store or authorized resellers. Avoid second‑hand or marketplace purchases unless the device is explicitly certified by the seller. Tampered devices are a real risk — packaging should be sealed and accessories present as described in official materials.

Unboxing & physical inspection

  1. Carefully inspect the box and tamper seals. If anything looks altered, contact the seller or Trezor support before proceeding.
  2. Inside you should find the Trezor device, USB cable, recovery seed card, and quick start guides.
  3. Do not plug the device into a computer until you are ready to follow the initialization steps below.

Important: Treat the recovery seed like cash. If someone else obtains it, they control your funds.

Download & verify Trezor Suite

For initial setup we recommend the desktop Trezor Suite for the most consistent experience.

  1. Open your browser and go to https://trezor.io/start. Always type the URL manually or follow links from the official domain—avoid email or search engine links that may be spoofed.
  2. Download Trezor Suite for your operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux).
  3. Where available, verify the installer using the published SHA256 checksum or PGP signature on the official download page.
  4. Install Suite and allow any OS permission prompts necessary for USB access.

Verification prevents tampered installers from being used. If checksums/signatures don’t match, delete the file and download again from the official site.

Initialize the device — create a new wallet

Follow Trezor Suite's onboarding flow and device prompts exactly. The main steps are:

  1. Connect your Trezor to your computer with the supplied cable and open Trezor Suite.
  2. Choose Create new wallet in Suite if you do not already have a recovery seed.
  3. Set a device PIN on the device when prompted. The PIN protects local device access — choose something memorable but not trivial.
  4. The Trezor will generate a recovery seed. Write down each word in order on the supplied recovery card. Confirm selected words when prompted.
  5. Store the recovery card in a secure, offline location (safe, safety deposit box, or metal backup).

Never type, photograph, or store your seed digitally. Never share it—Trezor support will never ask for it.

Restoring an existing wallet

If you already have a recovery seed from another device or backup:

  1. Choose Recover wallet in Suite and connect your Trezor.
  2. Enter the recovery seed using the device interface. Ensure you type the words in exact order and spelling.
  3. Set a new PIN and complete the setup flow.

After restoring, Suite will scan the chain for existing addresses and balances derived from your seed.

Firmware updates — why and how

Firmware updates are critical security maintenance steps that fix vulnerabilities, add features, and improve compatibility. After initialization, Suite may prompt you to update firmware:

  1. Follow Suite instructions to download and install the official firmware.
  2. During the update, confirm any fingerprints or checks on the device screen as instructed by Suite.
  3. Do not disconnect the device while flashing. If an update fails, follow Suite recovery instructions or contact support.

Firmware updates are signed and verified by Trezor — only install firmware from the official Suite or website.

Understanding seeds, passphrases, and hidden wallets

The recovery seed is the master recovery method for your wallets. Trezor supports an optional passphrase which acts as an extra secret that creates hidden wallets. While passphrases add robust security, they also add complexity: losing the passphrase is equivalent to losing access to any funds protected by it. If you use a passphrase, store it securely and separately from your seed.

Adding accounts in Trezor Suite

  1. In Suite, navigate to the Accounts tab and click Add account.
  2. Select the cryptocurrency to add (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.) and let Suite scan addresses derived from your seed.
  3. Label accounts to organize uses (e.g., savings, trading, staking).

You can add multiple accounts per currency. If an asset is not supported natively in Suite, you can use compatible third‑party wallets that integrate with Trezor.

Receiving funds — verify addresses

  1. Select the account and click Receive in Suite.
  2. Suite will display a receiving address and the device will show the same address — confirm the full address on the device before sharing it.
  3. Prefer unique addresses for different senders to improve privacy.

Address verification on-device is essential to prevent clipped clipboard or malware that tries to substitute your address on the computer.

Sending funds — safe signing workflow

  1. Open the account and click Send.
  2. Enter recipient address, amount, and fee preference. Review the network fee and expected confirmation time.
  3. Proceed to device confirmation and carefully read the recipient address, amount and fees on the Trezor display before approving to sign.

Cancel immediately if the details on the device differ from what you intended. Approving mismatched transactions can result in irreversible loss.

Swaps & partner services

Trezor Suite may provide integrated swap partners and fiat on‑ramps for buying or exchanging crypto. When using these services:

Backup strategies & durable storage

For long‑term safety, consider robust backups such as stamped metal plates that withstand fire and water damage. Split backups stored geographically can protect against local disasters, but weigh the security and custody implications. If you use a passphrase, maintain a separate, secure record of it; losing the passphrase is irreversible.

Troubleshooting common issues

Device not recognized

Try a different USB cable/port, restart Suite and the device, ensure Bridge/WebUSB is running (depending on OS), and on Linux verify udev rules for device permissions.

Missing balances

Allow Suite time to sync. If balances don't appear, verify you added the correct account type and derivation path. Funds are still recoverable using your seed even if Suite doesn't show them immediately.

Lost seed

If you still have your device, generate a new seed immediately and transfer funds to the new wallet. If both device and seed are lost, recovery is impossible.

Advanced topics: developers and integrations

Developers can integrate Trezor into apps via official SDKs. Always ensure cryptographic operations remain on-device and follow consent-driven flows. When building, test across platforms and document expected user flows to reduce confusion and accidental key exposure.

Security checklist before moving large amounts

Where to get official help

For tutorials, troubleshooting and support, visit https://trezor.io/start and the Trezor support center at https://trezor.io/support. Use official resources when in doubt and avoid third‑party instructions unless officially endorsed.